Putin says recall of Russian ambassador from US is extreme step

NOVO-OGAREVO, March 04. /ITAR-TASS/. President Putin has declared that recalling the Russian ambassador from the United States would be an extreme step.

"The US Secretary of State is a figure of importance, of course, but he is not the ultimate authority yet," Putin told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Recalling the ambassador is an extreme measure of course, but it will be taken if need be," Putin said. "I would not like to do that, I think that not only Russia alone, but its partners are interested in cooperation in the economy, politics and security on an international level. It is very easy to destroy this instrument, but it will be all the more difficult to rebuild it," Putin said.